William H. Seward was one of the foremost politicians of 19th century America and his incredible legacy, and all his stuff, is on display at the Seward House Museum in Auburn. Seward made his mark as being a strong opponent of slavery while serving on the public stage as a New York state senator, governor and a U.S. Senator. He lost the Republican nomination for president to Abraham Lincoln, who then appointed Seward secretary of state in a cabinet that was a team of rivals. On this episode of Our Finger Lakes History, Walter Gable takes a close look at the history of his Auburn, NY home which is now a museum that pays homage to Auburn’s most famous resident.

Learn about the fascinating history of one of the oldest trees in the Finger Lakes, the Scythe Tree in Waterloo.

In 1861, according to the plaque at the foot of the tree, “James Wyman Johnson came from the fields one morning, hung his scythe in the crotch of a small cottonwood tree, and said, ‘Leave the scythe in the tree until I return’.” Then Johnson went off to fight for the Union in the Civil War.

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The is the second in an ongoing series of historic places in the Finger Lakes by Seneca County Historian Walter Gable.

Learn about the origins of the famous Canandaigua landmark, Sonnenberg Gardens. This episode takes you through the transformation of the property and ownership over the past century and a half at the Sonnenberg mansion and grounds. Seneca County Historian Walter Gable presents the first in his series of famous historic places in the Finger Lakes.

Stephen Harkness, a native of MacDougall, New York in Seneca County, became the second most wealthy American of his time through a partnership with John D. Rockeller of Richford, NY. This episode tells the story of Harkness’ rise to “Millionaire’s Row” in Cleveland, Ohio. Seneca County Historian Walter Gable presents the third in his series of famous historic people with Finger Lakes roots.